ARTICLES ABOUT GESTURE BY DATE - PAGE 2

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba hopes the opening of negotiations on a new political agreement with the European Union could lead to similar talks with the United States, a visiting EU commissioner said Cuba's foreign minister told her on Thursday. EU Education Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said she, too, hoped the launching of an EU-Cuba dialogue would lead to better relations between Cuba and the United States, which severed diplomatic ties with the communist island in 1961 and imposed an economic embargo a year later.

(Reuters) - Maverick striker Mario Balotelli has been fined 10,000 euros (8,264.96 pounds) for making a provocative gesture to rival Cagliari supporters after scoring against them in AC Milan's 2-1 win on Sunday. Serie A's disciplinary tribunal said Balotelli had "angered the crowd with a provocative and insulting gesture" after claiming the equaliser from a free kick. Balotelli was also booked for the eighth time this season over the incident and will miss Milan's next league game at home to Torino through accumulated yellow cards.

Jan 23 (Reuters) - West Bromwich Albion forward Nicolas Anelka has denied an English FA charge regarding an alleged anti-Semitic gesture he made during last month's 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United, his club said on Thursday. The Frenchman, who made a "quenelle" salute after scoring his first goal in the match at Upton Park in London on Dec. 28, has requested a personal hearing, the Midlands club added in a statement on their website (www.wba.co.uk). Anelka had used his Facebook and Twitter accounts to ask the FA to drop the charges and denied he was anti-Semitic or racist.

MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid have launched an internal inquiry after their Argentina winger Angel Di Maria was seen to grab his crotch while he was being substituted in Monday's 3-0 La Liga win at home to Celta Vigo. Di Maria, who was replaced by Gareth Bale midway through the second half at the Bernabeu and was whistled by the home fans as he trudged off, insisted it was "a natural gesture" and said he apologized if anyone had found it offensive. The incident was widely debated in the Spanish and Argentine media on Tuesday and prompted further speculation that Di Maria, who has made fewer appearances since the arrival of world record signing Bale, might be sold either in the January transfer window or at the end of the season.

(Reuters) - San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker apologized on Monday after a three-year-old photo surfaced of him making the same anti-Semitic gesture that has landed former France striker Nicolas Anelka in trouble. Known in France as a "quenelle," the gesture is said to be a reverse Nazi salute and has been made famous by French comedian Dieudonne, who started using it in 2005. "While this gesture has been part of French culture for many years, it was not until recently that I learned of the very negative concerns associated with it," Frenchman Parker said in a statement released by National Basketball Association's Spurs.

LONDON, Dec 28 (Reuters) - The FA is to investigate an alleged anti-Semitic gesture made by West Bromwich Albion striker Nicolas Anelka during Saturday's 3-3 Premier League draw at West Ham United. An FA spokesman said his organisation would be launching a probe after Anelka's actions provoked widespread criticism. The former France striker marked the first of his two goals against West Ham with an apparent "quenelle" hand signal made famous by French comedian Dieudonne that is linked to anti-Semitism.

Dec 26 (Reuters) - Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Roman Shirokov was named Russia's Footballer of the Year for a second successive time on Thursday. The 32-year-old, capped 40 times by Russia, topped the annual poll of sports journalists, conducted by Football Weekly, to add to the award he won in 2012. "It was really unexpected to win last year but I'm not so surprised this year," said the player known for his aggressive manner on the pitch and frequent arguments with fans and referees.

The Sports Xchange Raiders assistant coach apologizes for gesture Oakland Raiders defensive coordinator Jason Tarver issued an apology on Monday for an obscene gesture directed at officials during Sunday's victory against Pittsburgh. Tarver directed a middle-finger gesture at officials after a personal foul was called on cornerback Mike Jenkins for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell. The flag was subsequently picked up and no penalty was called.